Let's just launch right into the exhaustive and extremely correct Fast-Food Burger Power Rankings. I've evaluated burgers from large, national chains in this ranking, making a couple of notable exceptions for California-based chains. I've tried to put these burgers into context: I'm not picking the best burger in general. I'm picking the best fast-food burger, which is an important distinction. (To get a better idea of what I mean, please refer to this piece I wrote last year about chicken nuggets versus chicken tenders.)
A great fast-food burger should taste good, of course, but it should also be convenient. It can have toppings — lots of toppings — but it shouldn't be overly busy. It should be compatible with eating inside a moving car, ideally with one hand only.
Is it fast-food or fast-casual? You could argue that in order to qualify as fast food, a place should have a drive-through window. But there are more and more upscale fast-food burgers these days eschewing convenience in favor of higher prices and a premium product. I've tried to factor that in and have included an extremely subjective value/affordability metric on the y-axis of the matrix to go along with taste rating.
